Lions' Blackmon runs away with honors

ALL-OBSERVER CROSS COUNTRY

By Langston Wertz Jr.
lwertz@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011

West Charlotte's Mark Blackmon is the All-Observer boys' cross-country runner of the year.

Earlier this month, Blackmon became the first Mecklenburg County boys' runner to win the N.C. 4A cross-country championship in 11 years.

He's only the third county champion since the meet was split into classifications in 1986.

Blackmon's winning time of 15 minutes, 34.45 seconds was nearly 12 seconds better than Panther Creek's Jacob Sears, who finished second.

Blackmon won three S.C. 4A state cross-country championships beginning in eighth grade. As a sophomore two years ago at Fort Mill High, he also won the prestigious Wendy's Invitational at McAlpine Park.

In 2009, Blackmon was named the Observer boys' cross-country runner of the year, becoming the first S.C. runner to win the boys' award. His sister, Angelina, won the All-Observer award as a runner at Rock Hill Northwestern in 2003.

Blackmon transferred to Raleigh Word of God to start his junior year, but moved to Charlotte and ended up a reserve on the West Charlotte 2011 state basketball championship team last March.

Earlier in this cross-country season, he became the third Lion in school history to win a conference title. Blackmon followed that I-Meck conference title with a 4A Western regional championship.

Providence Day's Ben Hovis is the boys' coach of the year. Providence Day won its second straight private school state championship this year.

Watauga's Darby Middlebrook is the girls' runner of the year. She had the third best 5K (17:35) in the Carolinas and was N.C. 4A runner-up. She also won a conference and regional championship.

ALL-OBSERVER BOYS' CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Mark Blackmon, West Charlotte, Sr.: 5K best of 15:27.9; Won N.C. 4A title, 4A West Region and I-Meck 4A.

Jonathan Bivens, Weddington, Sr.: 5K best of 15:38; N.C. 3A runner-up and won 3A Midwest Region, Union Co. Championship, and Southern Carolina 3A.

Ben Huffman, Providence Day, So.: 5K best of 15:45.4; All-NCISAA (fifth) and won CISAA conference.

Tim Gruber, Concord Cannon, Sr.: 5K best of 15:45.9; Performed well in big meets, but late-season injury slowed him.

Peter Vandenberg, Watauga, Jr.: 5K best of 15:49; N.C. 4A all-state (eighth), 4A West Region runner-up and won Northwestern 3A/4A.

Wyatt Maxey, Providence, So.: 5K best of 15:51; N.C. 4A all-state (seventh), 4A West all-region (third) and Southwestern 4A champ.

Madison Souder, Ardrey Kell, Sr.: 5K best of 15:47; N.C. 4A West all-region (fourth) and all-Southwestern 4A (third).

SECOND TEAM

Cole Honeycutt, East Rowan, Sr.

Alexander Flores, Clover, Sr.

Josh Anderson, Watauga, Jr.

Parth Shah, Ardrey Kell, Sr.

Drew Buckley, Marvin Ridge, Sr.

Tanner Glackin, Weddington, Jr.

Rob Saunders, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.

THIRD TEAM

Clifford Buck, Concord Robinson, Jr.

Reed Payne, Providence Day, Sr.

Alec Lane, Marvin Ridge, Jr.

Hunter Roark, Weddington, Jr.

Dakota Poindexter, Myers Park, Sr.

Michael Rupinski, Lake Norman, Sr.

Jack Matkins, Myers Park, Jr.

Sam Aaronson, Rock Hill Northwestern, Sr.

All-Observer Boys' Runner of the Year: Mark Blackmon, West Charlotte

All-Observer Boys' Coach of the Year: Ben Hovis, Providence Day

Mecklenburg County Boys' Runner of the Year: Mark Blackmon, West Charlotte

Mecklenburg County Boys' Coach of the Year: Ben Hovis, Providence Day

Piedmont Boys' Runner of the Year: Jonathan Bivens, Weddington

Piedmont Boys' Co-Coaches of the Year: Jerry Castro and Matt Reep, North Lincoln

ALL-OBSERVER GIRLS' CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Darby Middlebrook, Watauga, Jr., Third-best 5K (17:35) in the Carolinas; N.C. 4A runner-up, and won N.C. 4A West Region and Northwestern 3A/4A.

Sydney Foreman, Ardrey Kell, So.: 5K best of 17:50. N.C. 4A all-state (fifth), 4A West Region runner-up and Southwestern 4A runner-up.

Kaitlyn Kramer, Ardrey Kell, Sr.: 5K best of 17:48. N.C. 4A all-state (10th), 4A West all-region (fifth) and Southwestern 4A champ.

Meredith Kilburn, Fort Mill, Sr.: 5K best of 18:10. Won S.C. 3A state meet, 3A Upper State, Region 4-3A and York County Championship.

Natalie Andrejchak, Concord Robinson, Fr.: 5K best of 18:36. N.C. 3A all-state (fourth), and won 3A Midwest Region and South Piedmont 3A.

Mallary Price, Weddington, Jr.: 5K best of 18:29; N.C. 3A all-state (sixth), 3A Midwest Region runner-up, and won Union Co. Championship and Southern Carolina 3A/4A.

Madelin Talbert, South Mecklenburg, Sr.: 5K best of 18:13; N.C. 4A all-state (ninth), 4A West all-region (fourth) and all-Southwestern 4A (third).

SECOND TEAM

Grace Turner, Lincolnton, Sr.

Madison Harman, Watauga, Jr.

Samantha Teague, Ardrey Kell, Jr.

Allie Castro, North Lincoln, So.

Bianca Bishop, Providence, So.

Margot Corcoran, Charlotte Catholic, So.

Lily Anderson, South Mecklenburg, Fr.

THIRD TEAM

Jada Blake, Lincolnton, Fr.

Savannah Fornshell, North Lincoln, Sr.